Spotlight on staff – Tamsen Wren
It’s time to shine the spotlight on our next superstar RVN – and this time it’s Tamsen!
Where are you based and how long have you worked for Charter?
I work at Charter Veterinary Hospital in Roundswell, Barnstaple; I have been here for 11 years. My particular areas of interest are surgical nursing (assisting the orthopaedic surgeon with operations, monitoring complicated anaesthetics and keeping all the implants and equipment ready for use) and emergency/critical care (looking after those intensive medical and surgical cases).
What made you decide to go into a veterinary nursing career?
I always wanted to work with animals but ended up working in various professions before re-training at an older age to gain my qualification in nursing. I gained employment and trained ‘on the job’ which meant working full time, studying, assignments for college and writing a full NVQ nursing log. I have also undertaken an extra 2year qualification which is a Veterinary Nursing Certificate in Emergency and Critical Care.
What’s the best thing about your job? And the worst?
The best thing about my job is the variation – you never quite know how the day will pan out. One minute you can be helping with regular elective procedure and the next rushing an animal into theatre for an emergency surgery. There is also a wide range of areas to specialise in once you are qualified – consulting nurse, rehabilitation (hydrotherapy/physiotherapy), medical nursing, surgical nursing – the list goes on .
The worst thing about my job is that it can be stressful when dealing with very ill pets and their owners. Supporting the owners is as important as nursing the patient.
Do you have animals yourself? What are they?
I only have guinea-pigs at the moment – they are Roger, Gwen, Mavis and Wonky. They are all about 3/4 years old now.
What do you like to do in your spare time?
Work does take up most of my time! However I do enjoy walking especially out over the moors and around the coastline. I also enjoy drawing and gardening.
What’s your favourite place to go in North Devon?
There are too many to choose! Barricane beach eating a curry, Exmoor, Braunton burrows, Instow beach, I could carry on and on!
